D.W. Raleigh is from the mid-Atlantic region. He holds numerous college degrees, including an M.A. in Philosophy. Race track teller, debt collector, and merchandiser are just a few of the jobs he had held in addition to being a published author. Shiloh’s True Nature is the first in a series of novels he plans to write.

Shiloh’s True Nature tells the suspenseful story of a 12 year-old farm boy who is sent to stay with his estranged grandfather and discovers a mysterious new world inhabited by supernatural beings called ‘Movers.’ Find out more about the book from Hobbes End Publishing.

Congratulations on the release of your latest book, Shiloh’s True Nature. When did you start writing and what got you into fantasy?

I had written a number of things over the years, but never had any success getting them published. In fact, I had gone a long time without writing anything. Then, in the summer of 2007, inspiration struck. I had just finished reading the final chapter in an enormously popular series of novels and I remember thinking, ‘What am I going to read now?’ It was then I started compiling notes and ideas for Shiloh’s True Nature.

What was your inspiration for Shiloh’s True Nature?

I found two works from the late Joseph Campbell very inspirational. The Power of Myth and The Hero With A Thousand Faces are roadmaps to successful storytelling. Before I read Campbell’s works, I had many concepts I wanted to incorporate into my novel, but his thoughts on mythology really helped me tie them together properly.

Who is your target audience?

Everyone is my target audience. If I have to label my book, it would be classified as a Young Adult or Fantasy novel. However, I don’t think labeling it as such means those who read non-fiction or those who prefer other genres won’t like it. I think anyone and everyone who reads it will be glad they did so.

Many writers experience a vague anxiety before they sit down to write. Can you relate to this?

Yes and no. I’m not sure what I’d call it, but I wouldn’t classify it as anxiety. Anxiety, to me, is fear or a sense of dread. I don’t experience fear or dread, but there are times, particularly when I haven’t written anything in a while, that I have trouble getting started. This will probably sound a little silly, but it’s a feeling similar to being a kid and not wanting to sit down and do your homework.

How do you define success?

Truthfully, I think success is being able to do what you love for a living. If you’re good at your job, but you hate it, would you call yourself successful? I wouldn’t. So, for me, being able to make a living from my writing would make me feel successful.

Where is your book available?

Starting July 15, 2014, the book will be available through my publisher’s website http://hobbesendpublishing.com/ Also, it will be available through Amazon.com and I believe other booksellers as well.

What advice would you give to aspiring writers whose spouses or partners don’t support their dreams of becoming an author?

My immediate instinct is to say you have to follow your dreams. However, one can’t be irresponsible. If you’ve made commitments with and to your significant other, dropping them in hopes of being published is foolish. Compromise and try to achieve a balance.

What is your advice for aspiring authors?

Never stop editing your own work because you’ll always find ways to make it better. Never stop trying to get published, regardless of how many rejection letters you receive. Tenacity and thick skin are required traits of the fiction writer.

About Mayra Calvani

Mayra Calvani writes fiction and nonfiction for children and adults and has authored over a dozen books, some of which have won awards. Her stories, reviews, interviews and articles have appeared on numerous publications such as The Writer, Writer’s Journal, Multicultural Review, and Bloomsbury Review, among many others. Represented by Serendipity Literary.